Four Pine Manor students joined 600 New England area youth selected to attend “America Rocks the Vote,” a live television forum with the candidates broadcast from historic Faneuil Hall in Boston on November 4, 2003. Seven other Pine Manor students received press credentials to cover the event as behind-the-scenes student reporters, joining 300 members of the national and worldwide press corps.

The event was co-sponsored by CNN and Rock the Vote, a national nonpartisan organization that works with youth to support civic engagement. Eight of the nine Democratic candidates were on hand to field questions from the young people, whose votes could make a difference in the 2004 presidential election. Boston was chosen as the site for the historic forum because it will host the Democratic national convention next summer and is home to numerous colleges and universities.

Pine Manor audience members and Social and Political Systems majors Page Ann Clarke and Victoria Brown, second-year student Molly McGuinness, and first-year student Rene Johnson were asked by CNN to submit questions for the candidates. Students from the Communication Program’s Media Writing class and the English Program’s Advanced Journalism class took photos, shot videos, and interviewed candidates, members of the press, and forum attendees.

Communication majors Antoinetta Palladino, Francesca Guerrero, Allison Morrisette, and Bethany Luker joined CO 240 classmates Psychology major Alyssa Wright and English majors Amanda Adamowicz and Ashley Randall in this unique opportunity to practice the craft of journalism. The team wrote a front-page story, feature stories, and an editorial for the Gator Gazette, the newspaper produced by the journalism class, as well as a script for a television news story.

The goal of CNN/The Rock the Vote town meeting was “to send a message to young Americans that their concerns are worthy of a forum,” according to CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper, who moderated the November 4 event broadcast live to a national audience on CNN television and radio. Though many television viewers considered the event a step in the right direction, opinions among young people were divided on whether or not the goal of connecting young people to the political process had been reached.

The forum featured MTV-style videos preproduced by candidates’ staffs, designed to capture the attention of young people. The candidates, dressed in sweaters and shirtsleeves, answered audience questions directly during the debate and talked to the audience informally prior to the event and between commercial breaks.

Thousands of questions were generated in advance of the broadcast via the Internet, wireless devices, and from interviews with participants. The actual questions chosen covered a mix of light and serious issues, including topics that ranged from what type of computers the candidates’ used (“Mac or PC?”) to the candidates’ stands on gay rights, race, the economy, and the war in Iraq.

After the forum concluded, the candidates convened in the “spin room” to take questions from members of the press. The seven Pine Manor reporters—situated amidst a crush of fellow members of the press and numerous TV cameras—interviewed, photographed, and videotaped several candidates, as well as moderator Anderson Cooper and Jehmu Greene, national director of Rock the Vote.

The day after the forum, CNN reported very good national audience ratings, declared the event a success, and announced they may consider additional youth forums during the campaign. On campus the event was a hot topic, with Pine Manor students and faculty weighing in on the questions asked and how the TV production depicted college students.

“Though some of the questions touched on serious issues, there was simply not enough substance. In general, CNN stereotyped college students as incapable of comprehending serious political issues,” two student reporters wrote in an editorial for the Gator Gazette.

Several PMC classes used the event as a catalyst for discussions about the political process and how to best reach and involve young people. Second-year student Molly McGuinness thought some of the criticism was valid but added that overall the event was worthwhile. “Politics was being bandied about as it never has at Pine Manor. Whether it upset you or you were pleased to be there, it gave you a reaction.”

Social and Political Systems major Page Ann Clark was disappointed that the candidates didn’t address women’s issues. Though she is critical of certain aspects of the forum, Clark said “I’m even more passionate now about who I want in the presidency and what I want for myself.”

Wooing Youth Vote

All nine democratic candidates have been trying to reach young voters through active campaigns on the Internet. Though voters younger than 30 are large in numbers they have been a difficult group for candidates to reach in recent national elections.

The youth vote, which now accounts for a quarter of the voting-age population, is called a “gold mine of votes” by the Youth Vote Coalition. Political pundits say they are an available swing vote in a nation with the two major parties divided 50 percent/50percent. However, the turnout of young voters in recent elections has been low: in the 2000 elections, 36 percent of people ages 18 to 29 voted, in contrast to 67 percent of people ages 65–74.

A recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showed that potential voters under age 30 said they’re not as interested in politics as their older counterparts. In contrast, another study released last October by the Harvard Institute of Politics found a reawakening of political interest on college campuses. The national survey of more than 1,000 18- to 24-year-old college students found that since 9/11 more students say they will vote, that politics is meaningful, and that their vote matters.

The new Information Commons @ The Annenberg Library Loft represents a blend of technology and library services that students frequently require, and includes the addition of an entirely new role—the Information Technology Librarian. Amy Stimac, the IT Librarian, has joined Pine Manor to help students acquire technology skills and combine them with online and traditional library research techniques.

“This is an exciting time to be providing IT and library services here at the College,” reports Stimac. "The way people seek, discover, and process information is evolving, and the Information Commons is a response to the challenges that these changes bring. I am happy to be part of such an innovative learning facility.”

Amy Stimac received her MS in library and information science from the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science and her dual BA in history and spanish from Wellesley College. While completing her Master's degree at Simmons College, Amy focused on the information commons concept as an emerging practice in library services. She has since drawn upon her graduate work to successfully guide, promote, and launch PMC’s new Information Commons.

The idea for this new approach to delivering technology and research services was a product of the recent NEASC accreditation process. Through work on a NEASC self-study committee, representatives from the Library and IT discovered that their organizations had similar missions, especially around student mentoring and training.

“Until this year,” commented IT Director Liam Roche, “there was a traditional, unstaffed computer lab in the basement of theLibrary that students viewed as somehow separate from the Library both physically and functionally. The new Information Commons is completely integrated with the Library, just above the reference area. However, the real cornerstone of the effort is the addition of Amy Stimac as IT Librarian. Students can now have questions or problems resolved immediately, and a full-time technology mentor is available to help them with both computer-related needs and library research.”

After a summer of intense preparation, the Information Commons opened in time for the fall semester, quickly becoming one of the most popular areas of the campus. Many students drop in to check e-mail between classes, do online research, or simply pass the time before their next class.

“We have been very pleased with community reaction to this new model of service delivery,” stated Marilyn Smith Bregoli, Director of the Annenberg Library. ”Use of the Information Commons has been phenomenal. In addition to the Commons generally being packed, demand for reference services and library instruction classes has increased. It is very exciting for the Library to be involved in facilitating our students’ engagement in the active, collaborative learning that is so much a part of the College's mission.”

The collaborative effort that resulted in the creation of the Information Commons has benefits beyond enhanced services for the community, according to Bregoli and Roche. It demonstrates the positive things that can happen when different groups combine resources in an atmosphere of risk.

The commendations from DOE signaled the end of two years of transitional activities in the Education Program: courses were added, requirements were strengthened, a new major was introduced, and two new Licensure areas were developed. These changes have generated renewed interest among students, resulting in higher enrollments and student enthusiasm that has led to the creation of an Education Club, as well as student success in passing the Massachusetts Teacher Licensure Exam.

The visiting team found the “diversity of the student body truly commendable,” noting that "since the teaching force (in our nation’s schools) is predominately white while students attending public schools are diverse in language, race, and culture, Pine Manor’s education programs are well positioned to address this racial disparity….” Although the Pine Manor Teacher Licensure Program is representative of the diversity found elsewhere on campus, it is particularly noteworthy in a teacher training program. Attracting diverse teacher candidates into higher education teacher training programs is a goal of higher education programs across the country. The Pine Manor Teacher Licensure Program far exceeds other colleges in this respect, representing an extraordinary feature of PMC’s teacher training that is valuable to both the teacher candidates and the classrooms that will be served by the graduating students.

The visiting team also commended:

• the new Liberal Studies major, which was designed to meet the mandate of the Department of Education for a broad-based major for students seeking Elementary Education Licensure. This major is required for all Elementary Education Licensure candidates at PMC. Although the major was originally created to support Education students, it also contains a Global Studies concentration for other students who wish to focus on understanding world events and cultures, as well as a concentration in The School Age Child, which prepares non-Licensure Education students to work with children in after-school and recreational programs.
• the new Licensure areas of Visual Arts, which prepares teacher candidates for teaching Visual Arts to students in grades 5–12, and Biology, which prepares candidates to teach Secondary Education students in the science classroom.

Further goals of the program include: continuing to attract strong teacher candidates into all Licensure areas (Early Childhood, Elementary , English, Biology, and Visual Arts); making licensing more financially accessible for students; and creating a partnership with an urban school in which students can complete practicum requirements while providing the partner school with well- qualified prospective teachers.

The Department of Education Program Approval Report best illustrated the PMC Teacher Education Program in stating,” The college mission is well articulated and evidenced throughout the college curriculum and instructional programs, the heart of which is reflected in the teacher licensure programs.”

Professor Mary Connor, Director of the Teacher Licensure Program since 2001,"has done an extraordinary job of rebuilding the Program in just a few years," stated Dean of the College Nia Lane Chester. Her performance was specfically commended by the Department of Education, which has subsequently askedProfessor Connor to serve on evaluation teams assessing education programs at other institutions.

The distinguished jury will consist of concert pianists Michael Lewin, Janice Weber, Max Levinson, Sergey Schepkin, and Maria Clodes Jaguaribes.

The preliminary rounds will take place at the Ellsworth Theatre, Pine Manor College, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, June 25 and 26. The semifinal rounds will take place at the Ellsworth Theatre on Friday, June 27, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The final round will take place at the Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall, Longy School of Music, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 28.

The competition will also feature master classes given by Timothy McFarland and Roberto Poli on Wednesday and Friday mornings, 9:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m., in the Founder's Room, Pine Manor College. Lectures on "Dealing With Stage Fright" and "Electronic Music Synthesis and MIDI" will take place on Thursday, June 26, 9:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. in Room 200, Ellsworth Theatre.

For more information aboutthe competition, ticket reservations and sales, please contact the Boston Piano Amateurs Association, 508-393-6740, or online at www.bostonpianoamateurs.org.

The Academic Procession began to move from the area of the Annenberg Library promptly at 11 a.m., and the music of a small ensemble heralded to procession's arrival in the glade next to the pond. More than 1,000 family members, friends, alumnae, and staff rose to their feet as the faculty, staff, trustees, and seventy-seven graduates moved to their seats.

Welcoming everyone to the 91st Commencement of the College, President Gloria Nemerowicz expressed her pride in the graduating class for enriching the entire PMC learning community. "You have begun t make your mark, and we expect you to make your contribution and achieve your success while caring for the welfare of others. It is up to you make the principles of inclusivity and social responsibility a reality in your lives and in the society in which you live."

President Nemerowicz was followed by Katie Green '03, who had been elected Commencement speaker by her classmates. Green recalled that, "over the past four years, we have faced many challenges and opportunities. We had to cope with 9/11 and the loss of friends and our beloved teacher Professor Tosiello. We have grown and matured, and with the help of the entire PMC community, we have shaped ourselves into leaders. We have found our voices, and we will be heard." Green concluded by saying, "As we begin this new phase of our lives, we are as ready we can be. However, we have to remember that up to now we've conquered hills, but now we have mountains to climb."

Honorary degrees were there awarded to alumna Anne B. Batterson, author, adventurer, teacher; Marsha Johnson Evans, president of the American Red Cross; and Dr. Antonia Coello Novello, New York State health commissioner and former surgeon general of the United States. Each of the honorees spoke for five minutes, urging the graduates to be true to themselves, to remember their roots, to work hard, to go out of their way in their concern for others, and to take risks.

After the faculty awards, student honors and awards, and the Distinguished Service Award, Dean of the College Nia Lane Chester presented the graduating class for the formal awarding of their degrees. Sixty-nine graduates received Bachelor's degrees, and eight received Associate's degrees in the following areas: 12 in Biology, 16 in Business Administration, 10 in Communication, 4 in English, 4 in History and Culture, 5 in Liberal Studies, 14 in Psychology, 5 in Social and Political Systems, and 6 in Visual Arts.

To conclude the ceremonies, President Nemerowicz introduced the faculty and faculty emeritae/i and asked them to stand and be recognized, and then asked the graduates to stand and express their thanks to their families for their support over the past four years.

Scheduled to read and share some of their favorite stories, poems and plays are:

• Whitney Retallic, Center for ilsr
• Professor Melinda Ponder
• Professor Michelle Talbot
• Robin Maddalena, Annenberg Library
• Sandra LaFleur, Annenberg Library
• Valerie Thomas '82
• Liam Roche, IT
• Erica Long '04
• Victoria Brown '04
• and back by popular demand, Professor Bob Owczarek

Participating Alumnae:

• Brinn Jennison Chute ’96 • Senior Supervisor, Volunteer Programs and Internships,
• The New England Aquarium
• Margaret Cleary ’88 • Nurse, Children's Hospital
• Tracey Doolin ’95 • Senior Special Events Associate, Greater Boston Food Bank
• Alex Ernst ’93 • Sr. Childcare Supervisor, Italian Home for Children
• Wendy Freedman Joblon ’73 • Special Events Planner and Wedding Consultant
• Samara Lamm ’98 • Owner and Founder, The Kid’s Place
• Mary (Mollie) Marchant ’73 • Senior Director, Fidelity Investments
• Valerie Thomas ’82 • Librarian and Award-Winning Poet
• Catherine Voll ’83 • Probation Officer, Mass. Trial Court
• Andrea Hussey Willett ’82 • Architect

This presentation is the second of the College’s new International Speakers Series, which has been created to provide insight for the college community and other interested parties into major global political, social, and economic issues.

Sponsored by Pine Manor College English Language Institute and the Women’s Studies Program

The mission of the Leadership Summitis to aid in the development of student leaders, to provide students with an opportunity to assess their own leadership styles while being challenged ina supportive environment of their peers. Our aim is to motivate, rejuvenate, and reenergize the students involved so that they may best serve their fellow students at their own colleges. Our focus is the give students the opportunity to question their peers on their successes and challenges, to think of the potentials that they have on their campuses and to give participants the tools that they will need to achieve their goals.

Workshops offered:

• Group Dynamics and Communication
• Diversity
• Budget and Fundraising
• Ethical Decision-Making
• Leadership Collaboration
• Recruitment and Retention
• Transferable Skills
• Creative Programming Ideas

A popular Hess Gallery exhibit in the spring of 2000 featured Cunningham’s art, and on March 29, the artist presented a Anne P. Nicholson ’40 Series lecture entitled "Step on Board: The Emergence of African American Sculpture." The title was taken from a large bronze statue of Harriet Tubman, which depicts her leading runaway slaves to freedom. The work was installed last year in Boston’s South End and is the first statue honoring a black woman on city property.

Examples of the similarities between present and past at the March 2000 Hess Gallery exhibit were Her Son with Dreadlocks and Masai Warrior, in which Cunningham depicts the similarity of a young man’s style and attitude across the barriers of time. "It is my desire to communicate clearly through my work and to reflect the commonalities shared by my ancestors and myself, my children, family, and community," explained Cunningham. "I have a strong determination to teach through my sculpture and to uplift Black Americans as we struggle to maintain a positive identity in an often hostile environment."

Fern Cunningham earned a BFA from Boston University and currently teaches at the Park School in Brookline, Mass.